After a 4 year abscence, I found myself back in a tent, in a field in Reading. The acts were good on the whole, the people were great, and all in all it was good to be back. So I thought a nice long review would be in order.

Lets start off with the lowlights and get them out the way. There were only two major disappointments of the festival, I'd been looking forward to both The Prodigy and the Soulwax DJs but both turned out to be big disappointments. Shame really.

Anyway, the dance tent, as always provided some real quality, especially the acts that I hadn't heard of before I got there.

New Flesh were one of two UK hip-hop acts which really shone. Even the problems they couldn't control were turned to their advantage; when the decks weren't coming through the MCs did a soulful acapella on the fly discussing the problem. Impressive. Understatement.

Fallacy & Fusion impressed for different reasons. Their DJ was the first I've seen to use CDJ-1000's in place of the traditional Technics. Having played with these myself, I'd say vinyl finally has a contender in the CD world, and the F&F DJ went to town doing an amazing scratch'n'cut version of We Will Rock You by Queen, not something you'd do with the original vinyl!

Finally from the new guys, Fingathing were truly unique and thoroughly impressive.

The big names didn't disappoint either. Rumours of someone foaming at the ears after Aphex Twin's set haven't been confirmed but can certainly be believed. A DJ set with some weirdos on stage it may have been but fucking intense it certainly was. 1000, Mr Moby? Fuck off you slow arsed old man!

First Rate was flash and polished as always, but maybe not quite as coherent as he could have been. DJ Maley certainly outshone him. Still, bumping into Jon and Karen from Beats Working for Freq Nasty's set was class, not often you hear Josh Wink's Higher State out much nowadays and get to make the most of it with such complete nuttas.

Finally, a big shout out to the cool people who were camped around us. Lisa and Jamie, keep enjoying the Manics, together if possible. Martin and Enola, keep it together, come say hello some time. Beth, leave my head alone dammit. Katie, don't leave my head alone! Where are you all anyway?

Reply To This...